Rijeka: Medals, statistics and quotes

This event took place from March 6th to 18th 2010 in Rijeka, Croatia. The championship was an eleven round Swiss tournament with a playing rate of 90 minutes for 40 moves, 30 minutes for the rest of the game, and an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

Press release

European Champions crowned in Rijeka

On Thursday a medal ceremony for the 11th European Individual Men and Women's Chess Championship was held in Rijeka. The most successful players were awarded by the President of the European Chess Union Boris Kutin, the President of the Croatian Chess Federation Stjepan Šturlan, the Prefect of the Primorsko-Goranska County Zlatko Komadina and the Deputy Mayor Željko Jovanovic.

At the men's competition the gold was won by the the 20-year old Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi with excellent score of 7 wins and 4 draws, earning 9 points and over 25 rating points. After the rapid tie-breaks the silver was won by Georgian Baadur Jobava while Artyon Timofeev won the third place. The best placed Croatian representative is Hrvoje Stevic at 65th place with 7 points.

Women's medalists: Cmilyte (Silver), Cramling (Gold) and Socko (Bronze)

The title of the European Champion at the women's tournament was won by Sweidsh grandmaster Pia Cramling who recorded 8 wins with 2 draws and 1 defeat at this Championship and 19 rating points. Lithuanian Victoria Cmilyte won the silver, and for the bronze medal there were 5 player playing rapid tie-breaks. After 3 rounds, the 3rd place was won by the Polish Monika Socko.

23 players qualified for the World Cup and 14 female players qualified for the World Championships. It is important to mention that the Championship was followed via internet by more than two milion viewer from around the world, while some 1,500 visitors passed through the sport's hall of the Centre Zamet. All this proves that this is a record Championship which is also supported by the players that have proclaimed this event as the best organized chess championship ever. Even the ECU president Boris Kutin said that this Championship has received mosts compliments for the organizers.

Rijeka's Championship in quotes and numbers

On March 18th 2010 the 11th European Individual Men and Women's Chess Championship ended in Rijeka. As you already know, the gold was won by the 20-year old Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi and by Sweidsh grandmaster Pia Cramling.

The Championship achieved various records, and here are some of the numbers. Total of 566 chess players from 41 European countries participated in Rijeka. 440 players with a chess title, 196 of them grandmasters, as well as 158 players female chess players, 134 of them with a chess title.

Now, here are some of the details about games played in Rijeka: total of 3,078 games were played and 2,088 or 68% of them ended in wins or losses. Only 32% of the games were drawn. A total of 41 norms for titles of men and women grandmasters and International Masters were achieved in both tournaments. A total of 8 male and 1 female player have earned a norm for the title of grandmaster. 23 male chess players qualified for the World Cup and 14 female players qualified for the World Championships.

This Championship will be remembered by the large number of visitors who watched 75 broadcast games every day. Up to now, our web site was visited more than two million times. March 11th, was a record day, when there was more than 200,000 visitors. Some 1,500 visitors passed through the sport's hall of the Centre Zamet.

[The Internet numbers, while impressive, are not reflected in tracking services like Alexa]

Here are some of the quotes about this Championship:

• Anatoly Karpov, ex World Champion: “I was at Croatia 30 years ago, and the organization of this Championship in Rijeka delighted me. The organizers provided ideal conditions for a large number of players and so I congratulate them for the excellent organization“.

• Georgios Makropoulos, FIDE Deputy President: “This is the best organized European Individual Chess Championship, because excellent accomodation and playing conditions are provided for all players.“

• Boris Kutin, ECU President: "No championship has ever received as many compliments as this one in Rijeka. This is surely the best one.“

• Zoltan Almasi, GM: “This is the strongest European Championship ever and as well the best organized championship for sure. Opatija is a very nice place and I fell excellent here“.

• Ian Nepomniachtchi, GM: “I love this country and I must admit that I was warmly welcomed in Croatia. This is a country full of friendly individuals. Conditions for the game are also great."

• Pia Cramling, GM: “This is my first time in Croatia and I am really enjoying. Everything is nice here and it is my great pleasure to play in Rijeka. It is very important for men and women to play together so that's why this sports hall is ideal for this tournament.

• Victoria Cmilyte, WGM : “I think this is the best competition ever. Opatija is a beautiful place, and the hall is ideal for playing chess. All this has made this championship very special and unique.“
  

Top scorers in the men's section (after eleven rounds)

• All standings from the men's section

Top scorers in the women's section (after eleven rounds)

• All standings from the women's section

Links Official tournament site All games in zipped PGN: Men + Playoffs – Women + Playoffs A selection of the games were broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!